Cooling Power

It's ghastly hot in Maryland this week, but it's super cool at The Barn! 

We're open again tomorrow, Friday, June 25th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a summer sale!   

The a/c is on and all of our furniture is 20% off!

It's a super cool place to beat the heat!

3250 Bottner Road

Gambrills, MD  21054

410/903-1583

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Port, For Sure

My boys and I figured it out!  

Port is the left side of a boat, starboard the right!   

We passed our tests and are now licensed to operate boats in the state of Maryland!   

Now, what kind of boat should we get?  

In other news, my sale is this weekend at Chartreuse and Co., in Buckeystown, MD.  

Stop by and check it out!   

Starboard or Port?

Just in case my ship comes in anytime soon my boys and I are enrolled in a nine hour boater safety course.   

We don't even own a boat.
Not a canoe.
Or a kayak a dinghy or a rowboat.  
We don't even have one of these:

But a girl should be prepared, just in case.   
I'm a simple girl, all I really want is one of these:  

(With cushions covered in India Hicks fabrics, of course!)

So, hopefully by Wednesday night at nine o'clock we'll be licensed to skipper our very own watercraft.  
And come on, if I get my license, I'm definitely going to need a boat, right?

(Provided I pass the test.)

Wish me luck...

Now, what side is starboard again??

Prayers Please

It's been a rough week for some people I really love.

My mom was diagnosed with some serious medical conditions.

(With the proper medication she should be fine.)

One of my friends had double bypass surgery.

(He's on the road to recovery.)

And my oldest brother had an emergency appendectomy.  

(The doctor said it was one of the worst cases he's ever seen and my brother could have died.)

I believe in the power of prayer and would appreciate it if you could include my loved ones in yours.   

Thank you.

My Best Auction Finds

If it's Wednesday, I'm at the auction.

Today was no exception.   

I love going because every week is different.    
Sometimes it's a total bust and sometimes you get lucky!

You can even find things you didn't  know you were looking for.  

And I don't mean great finds, like the two stained glass windows, vintage bed,  matching dresser, and the really cool antique scale I found today, but treasures of another sort, much more important than inventory for the barn.

Like friends.  

For instance, there's Carol and Carla.  

I met them about eight or nine months ago when we were bidding against each other on an enormous, vintage chalkboard that ended up on my dining room wall.  

I was the winner that day in more ways than one because 

Carol and Carla became my friends.

I look forward to seeing them each week because they're lovely!  

 They're fun, they're supportive, they're sassy 
(Oh, do they get cranky when people bid against them!)
and I love them!   
One week they spotted a crate of old "Kramer Beverage" soda bottles, and pretty much guaranteed no one else would get them but me.
(The Kramer Angle)   

They're just genuinely nice women.  

I adore them and if they like me half as much as I like them, I'm a lucky woman!  

And then there's Drew.   

You may remember him from this post.

We met because I bought something he was interested in.

He was the MVP for me today because he strapped an antique headboard to the roof of my van because it wouldn't fit inside.    

(And I'm happy to report it didn't fly off as I crossed the Bay Bridge into the Chesapeake like it would have if I had tied it up there myself!)

Our friendship was a chance encounter that may be heading towards an interesting business venture.

But what I like about him most is that he's interesting!   

The stories he tells about the finds he has scored over the years fascinate me!
He's a born story teller and I enjoy his company.  

Okay, let's talk about Michelle.  

She owns the Vintage Source in Southern Maryland.

(It's a monthly sale and it's fabulous!)  

She's been to my barn show, and I've been to her sales.

We encourage each other, commiserate and cheer each other on in this crazy business!   

She's calm, smart and savvy.   

An auction friend that I wish lived closer so we could hang out together.   

Do you know Cassie of Primitive and Proper?

I first officially met her at the auction.

I'm not kidding when I tell you this girl is seriously talented!   

And sweet!

It would be impossible to find anyone sweeter or nicer than Cassie!  
(Not to mention beautiful!)

And we're friends now because of the auction.   
She also writes a great blog!  

So, you see, it's like I tell people, you just never know what you're going to find at an auction!

With any luck you'll be just like me and come back with friends!

The very best kind of find!  

Remembering

My father was a veteran of the Korean War and in the last years of his life he was very involved with his local American Legion Post.

My sons and I would drive up to New Jersey this weekend every year to watch him march with his unit's Color Guard in Memorial Day parades.

It always meant a lot to him that we were there and it's a strong memory my boys still have of their grandfather. 

After he passed away I found a yellowed newspaper clipping with his handwritten notes on it in his personal papers.  
 He was proud to be a veteran. 
I'm proud to share the contents of that clipping that must have meant so much to him:   

It is the 

VETERAN,

Not the preacher, 

Who has given us freedom of religion.  

It is 

The VETERAN,

Not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is 

The VETERAN,

Not the poet, 

Who has given us freedom of speech.  

It is 

The VETERAN

Not the campus organizer,

Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is

The VETERAN

Not the lawyer,

That has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is 

The VETERAN

Not the politician,

That has given us the right to vote.  

It is

The VETERAN

Who Salutes the Flag

It is 

The VETERAN

Who Serves Under the Flag


And at life's end, whose coffin is draped by the flag.  


God Bless America!


(Adapted from a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC)
(Photo of my boys and father from 2002)

Post Lucketts Analysis!

Yes, the Luckett's Spring Show was absolutely fabulous and I do believe Chartreuse and Company totally rocked it, but for me, it was much more than whether I sold everything I brought.  
(Pretty dang close, and then some, though, in case you were wondering!)
  It was actually much bigger than that.   

To most of you reading this post, it will mean nothing, but to my peeps at Chartreuse, I hope it will mean something:  

In many ways this has been the happiest year of my life because it has also been the most personally fulfilling.  

I spent last Thursday through Sunday with the most amazing group of women (and a few dudes) I've ever met.    

 In addition to being blessed with a supportive  husband (mostly!) and great kids (mostly!),  I'm out there literally living my dream (which keeps getting bigger and bigger every day) and each and every one of the group from Chartreuse has touched my life the past year.   

They're all of the following and so much more:  

Fabulous

(Meet them once and you'll know what I mean!)

Inspiring

(8 months pregnant and still on her feet 12 hours later inspirational!)

Creative

(They can turn trash to treasure in a blink of an eye!)  

Supportive 

(No jealousy here!) 


Funny

(Of the pee your pants, laugh out loud, hysterical kind of funny!)

Respectful 

(They've taught me to value what I do)

Enterprising 

(There are definitely easier ways to make a living!)

Strong 

(Emotionally and physically!)


Passionate


(You can't dumpster dive without it!)

Empowering 

(They actually help you succeed!)

and 

Truth be told, the most annoying, obnoxious group of people I've ever met!  
(Lest they start to think they're "all that"!)  


And even though they sell the most  "embarrassingly stupid"  stuff I've ever seen, it

brings me great joy to be associated with each and every one of them.   


So, thank you to the Chartreuse girls (and dudes) for one amazing weekend!   

LUCKETTS OR BUST!!!

A Long Way to Go!

We're taking the Chartreuse show on the road!   

Not only will be open for our usual monthly sale next weekend,

May 21st, 22nd, and 23rd 

but we'll also be at the Lucketts Spring Show in Virginia

on the 22nd and 23rd!

So we're all busy hunting and gathering and stocking up for both shows!   

(I'm a PLANNER though, 
so I'm way ahead of the game!)    

It's going to be fabulous!  

I hope you can join us!  

East Bound And Down From The Motion Picture

East Bound And Down From The Motion Picture 'Smokey And The Bandit' by Jerry Reed

Posted using ShareThis

Thank You Not Included in Purchase Price

Me:  "Thank you."

Cashier:  "You're welcome."

Wait, what?  

Shouldn't that be the other way around? 

When did it become the norm for customers to thank a business for letting us shop there?


It's like they're doing us a favor by taking our money!  

I went to three stores today and three times the exact same exchange took place!   

It's one of my biggest pet peeves!   

So occasionally, when I'm feeling cranky, I throw out the 

"You're welcome!" to unsuspecting cashiers.

For the most part they're just silent, but occasionally it elicits the appropriate response!   

Thank you!   

And thank you for stopping by today!  

Knowing JOY!

It's been a week like no other!   

AMAZING

UNBELIEVABLE

and 

MAGICAL!

And someday,  I hope to tell you all about it!   

But for now, it's my little secret.   

And that's okay because I need time to savor the last few days!

To process the excitement, joy and happiness I'm feeling.

Let's just say,

Life.....is....BEAUTIFUL!!!

Photo found here

Three of my best friends have been out of the country this week.

They went off to Quebec with their 8th grade sons for six days.  

And left me here.  

Alone.

Without my peeps.  

We usually get together every weekend with our families.

To share a meal, catch up on each other's lives, and drink some wine.  

(The cheap pink kind for me, thank you very much!)

So, I'm missing them.

And looking forward to their return.

So I can hear all about their trip.  

And reconnect.  

I need them because it's been an emotional week.

I have the barn girl blues.  

(Happens after every show!)

My oldest son turned 14!  

(How did that happen so soon?   He'll be off to college in FOUR years!)

People have let me down.  

(Oh, why do we let it get to us?)  

So, I need my peeps.

To raise me up.  

And tell me it's okay.